Posted 5-20-00
In the early hours of April 10, I heard the following exact words, "Prepare for the coming of the Messiah." It was nonverbal [no I don't hear voices, thank goodness], but the meaning was very precise. It was delivered in a very matter of fact tone, like an airline pilot saying, "prepare for takeoff." I thought you would like to know. If I hear anything again, I will let you know. I thought that perhaps these were marking off the 1 year and the 2 month countdown.
The article goes on to say that the FCC will soon require "location determination technology" in all cellular phones. Well, if you have read any of the Left Behind series, if really doesn't indicate that the AC is persecuting Christians or instituting the mark of the Beast in the immediate days following the Pre-Trib. Rapture. Don't bet on it!!!, you think the AC is really going to miss out on all money! This is not a question for you or any of your faithful readers, just a little something for the skeptics of watching Christians to chew on!
Whew! why did he pick just those years? Agape
Please forgive me for asking questions you may have answered before since I am new to your site. But on the issue of the "two witnesses", how can one be Moses since he died, and it is appointed for man to die only once? Even though Enoch was before the Jewish Lineage, could he represent the Gentile Church? 2nd question, if Goliath was from the corrupted human race, how did his ancestors survive the flood?
Thank you for "pressing in" and being faithful to your calling. I pray for "abundant blessings for you"!!!! Yours in Christ
> > I believe that it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that enables all of to understand
That is so true. Jesus said that without him we could do nothing, and that goes for figuring out what Scripture means too. The Bible is written so that the unbeliever can't understand much except the plan of Salvation. The rest is so much nonsense to him. This is on purpose.
Isa. 28:9-13 explains: " Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept...line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."
> > how can one be Moses since he died, and it is appointed for man to die only once?
General rules can have exceptions. Lazarus died twice. Satan disputed about the body of Moses. Jude 9 says, " Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
To me, the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. Zech. 4:11-14 says, "What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth." Moses and Elijah stood by Christ at the Transfiguration. Rev. 11:4 says, "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
> > Even though Enoch was before the Jewish Lineage, could he represent the Gentile Church?
Yes. The Age of the Gentiles was first, then the Age of the Jews. We are now approaching the consummation of the ages, of the Gentiles, of the Jews, and of the Church.
> > if Goliath was from the corrupted human race, how did his ancestors survive the flood?
They didn't. We have to read Gen. 6:4 carefully. It says, "There were giants in the earth in those days; and ALSO AFTER THAT, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
In his day, Og was the last of the hybrid giants. De. 3:11 says, "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits (9 x 18" = 13.5') was the length thereof, and four cubits (6') the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man (elbow to tip of fingers)." De. 3:3 says, So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining."
Father, I pray for abundant blessings for all who read my books and my web site. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Agape
Any chance that when John wrote "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" that he really meant the Lord's ascension day? Is there any record that ascension day was remembered by the early church?
Thank you again for your work, for you have greatly helped me in my study of Scriptures. GOD has certainly blessed you! PS: You did a wonderful job handling the skeptic in the latest P/C's. Your Brother in Christ
> > Between which judgments do you interpret the Bible as placing the Pre-Wrath Rapture?
There are various things that technically are judgments, such as sin being judged at the cross, sinners that should judge themselves so the Lord won't have to, etc. However, I can only think of 3 main Judgments, and the Rapture precedes them all. There is the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Judgment of the Nations, and the Great White Throne Judgment. I think the 1st is in Heaven on the first day of the Millennium. The 2nd is on Earth after the Second Advent. The 3rd is in space. Evidently, the angel's final judgment is at the Great White Throne, the same as unbeliever's. It seems that the fallen angels were judged before Adam, but must have appealed the sentence and gotten a temporary reprieve.
Personally, I think the Lord may have created man to prove a point to Satan. If man, smaller, less powerful, not able to see God, could still obey Him, He would be just in sentencing the fallen angels to prison. We'll probably find out before long. I'll be one student willing to be taught. Agape
"Come"
The first command to protect man from catastrophe was "Come in" to the ark for safety, which also means come into Christ to shelter your life and soul forever.
The second command was "Come out" of her (Sodom and Gomorra) which also means to come away from the worldly things that clutter up our lives.
The third command is"Come up Hither" which means come into His wonderful presence but will eventually mean come home to Him, the end of our cares and eternity with Him.
And the Spirit and the Bride say Come Lord Jesus.
Your fellow traveler
"Come out" reminds me of something else too. Abraham was told to come out of Ur. Now the United Religions (UR) charter is to be signed June 26, 2000. In Rev. 18:4, God says of this harlot church, the UR, " Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
Revelation is written as if the Rapture were at hand. It is "at hand" in the first and last chapters (1:3; 22:10). Rev. 17:12 is immediately AFTER the Rapture takes place, for the 10 kings "have received no kingdom as yet" (i.e., the Tribulation of Rev. 13:1 has not yet begun) and verse 14 says, "they that ARE WITH HIM are called, and chosen, and faithful."
"And AFTER these things" (i.e., after the Pre-Trib Rapture), the foolish Laodicean virgins are told to come out of the UR in Rev. 18:4.
If UR becomes official June 26, 2000, and after that the foolish virgins are told to come out of UR, doesn't it seem as if the Rapture would happen before June 26, 2000? Pentecost is June 9,10 or 11, according to how you figure it. That would fit very nicely, wouldn't it? Agape
Actually, since the Spirit of Christ is the same as the Spirit of God, Christ came to the Church as the Comforter and Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Rom. 8:9 says, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the SPIRIT OF GOD dwell in you. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is none of his."
The Spirit of Christ came upon the Church on Pentecost in 30 AD. This set a strong precedent for Him to come upon the Church on Pentecost at the Rapture. In Rev. 3:3, Jesus spoke of the "hour I will come UPON thee." That is the Rapture. He came UPON the Church on Pentecost, and is likely to come UPON the Church on Pentecost at the Rapture.
> > Jesus was cut off, though not for himself, at the end of the 69th week. This means that Jesus only fulfilled the Firstfruits
The 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel 9 are for Israel. In the gap between them, Christ comes twice, once as the Holy Spirit on Pentecost in 30 AD and in the air at the Rapture. After the Rapture, the 70th week of Daniel will begin, I think on the following Feast of Weeks/Pentecost.
> > I still do not believe in the multiple rapture theory How do you think the "great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" can stand "before the throne, and before the Lamb" in Rev. 7:9? Verse 14 says, " These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
In the gospel in the stars, these Tribulation saints are depicted as THE GREATER SHEEPFOLD. However, there also is THE LESSER SHEEPFOLD, and it is closer to the King than THE GREATER SHEEPFOLD. I think the wise virgins are the lambs in THE LESSER SHEEPFOLD. They are ready when the Bridegroom comes for them. The foolish virgins need more oil of the Holy Spirit. "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were READY went in with him TO THE MARRIAGE: and the door was shut" (Mt. 25:10). The Philadelphians face the "open door" in Rev. 3:8. The Laodiceans that are spued out of his mouth face the closed door in Rev. 3:20.
Yet, the Laodiceans are in Christ, or they couldn't be spued out of his mouth. The foolish virgins have lamps with some oil. They are just sputtering, threatening to go out. I think these will be among those coming out of the Great Tribulation, as in Rev. 7:9,14.
The first group to appear in Heaven is "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" in Rev. 5:9, before the first seal is broken to start the Tribulation in Rev. 6. The second group to appear in Heaven comes out of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:9,14) between the breaking of the 6th and 7th seals. Agape
According to Bonnie Gaunt, the beginning of the Jewish year was technically not on September 11, 1999 as shown on the modern Jewish calendar. On the true biblical calendar as God prescribed to Moses, the 5760 would have begun on the seventh new moon, October 9, 1999.
There are exactly 234 days from October 9, 1999 to Ascension Day, June 1, 2000.
As a reminder, my report at http://www.geocities.com/bramlett2000/234.html summarizes other interesting aspects of the number 234. In that report I also mentioned that June 1, 2000 is the 153rd day of the year 2000. Jim. He's coming!
About baptism. It is not for Salvation. Think about the thief on the cross. He was saved, but not baptized. It is a public declaration that you believe in Christ and symbolically die with him and are raised up to new life. Mt. 28:19 gives the formula to use. Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Blessings and Agape
Reading your pro and con almost every day is a true blessing. I suspect you have endured criticism from many people (fellow-christians included) as a result of your work. I personally was amazed to see how many christian friends became irritated when I spoke to them about this 'way' of interpreting the bible. I don't think they want things to be so real and close and most of them are young and have many plans for their future on earth. Though their reactions have not changed my ideas I must admit they succeeded in tempering my enthusiasm a bit. Though I believe many of them are very good christians (many a lot better than me) only a few have the same feelings/knowledge about the future and the absolute accuracy of the bible in this respect. I feel as if I have been given this knowledge, since I asked the Lord for it a few years back. Until then I had only heard vague stories about some sort of 'rapture' teaching and suspected it was some insane idea from evangelical Americans. (I have come a long way.) So before I started reading about these subjects I prayed for more insight in God's word and guidance of the Holy Spirit to show me what was real. Wow, I had no idea what I was actually asking for! A whole new perspective has opened for me in a very short period since then and this process does not seem to stop. I am convinced this is God's work since have grown in my love of God and all this makes me more and more amazed when I see His power and grace. That is the main reason wy I would want to share this with my christian friends. Now finding other believers with the same enthusiasm on the net is a huge encouragement to me! Thank you very much! Though I would not want to be too specific in setting dates (mainly because other christians/non-believers could make fun of it) I am convinced the rapture will indeed take place very soon. I am also convinced (and very glad) that if June would not be correct you would go on with your terrific task. Let's pray for each other, for christians who do not see these developments yet, AND most importantly for our non-believing friends. I hope God can use us to show Himself to them in the time left. I think that is the point I have to work on most now, with God's help of course. God bless you!
> > before I started reading about these subjects I prayed for more insight in God's word and guidance of the Holy Spirit to show me what was real. Wow, I had no idea what I was actually asking for! A whole new perspective has opened for me
Bless you for telling me this. Do I ever know what you mean! It makes the hair stand up on my arms. I feel a kinship with you already. I wish everyone would pray as you did. The following is what happened to me. I had no idea what I was asking for, either.
I had Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door wanting me to study the Bible with them. I was afraid of being misled without realizing it, thinking that if a person is presented things that sound reasonable at the time, they could be led astray step by step. I decided that the only way to protect myself was to read all the Bible for myself before looking into what others thought. That way I would be able to tell if what they said was really Biblical or not.
I had been a Christian a long time by then, had been raised in the Methodist Church, had made another profession of faith and been baptized again to become a member of the Baptist Church. I had read here and there in the Bible for a long time, but never sat down to read it all the way through.
Well, I made the mistake of starting at the beginning and got bogged down in the begats or in the laws of Leviticus four times. Finally, thinking I'd leave those for later, I started afresh in the New Testament. It has been clear sailing ever since. After reading Revelation, I read the Old Testament prophets. Then I read the rest. For some reason I left out Nehemiah for a long time, but finally read that one too. Israel's history was no longer dry when it finally soaked in that they played out big and little dramatic skits to sort of illustrate prophecy. Then it became fun to hunt for them, but I had to know the prophecies first to recognize the little skits.
It pays to look up the meaning of names. Daniel means "judgment of God" or "God is my judge," from Dan "judgment" or "he that judges" and El "God." That ties in with the content of the book of Daniel. Nehemiah means "conduct of the Lord." I found a gem sketched in chapter 2:1-12. "And it came to pass in the month Nisan...send me unto Judah...how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time...So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days....And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me." Jesus also came to Jerusalem, was 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the Earth, arose in the night, and a few men with him.
After reading all the Bible, I spent 7 years constantly reading books about the Bible from the Seminary Collection at the library at BIOLA (the Bible Institute of Los Angeles) in La Mirada, CA. Finally, I was desperate to find answers to burning questions I could find no answers to. What were the cherubim and flaming sword of Gen. 3:24? and the cherubim of Eze. 1 and 10? No one could convince me that they really knew what they were. They either went off on a flight of fancy or left it out.
In exasperation, I opened my Bible, put my hands on it and said, "Lord! you'll have to show me. I want to know everything you want man to know about the Bible, all the deep things--everything." After all that study, I still did not know what I was asking. There was more there than I thought. There is so much there, I don't think a person can understand it all in this lifetime. Somewhere along the way, I also prayed to be filled with his Holy Spirit and asked him what he wanted me to do.
After that, I mostly used Strong's Concordance and the Bible, every version I could get my hands on. For the next 7 years, I learned so fast, I felt like I had a tiger by the tail and could hardly keep up. Later, I added Young's Concordance, Gesenius' and Thayer's Lexicons, the Septuagint and Green's Interlinear Bible.
There were times when King David studied the scriptures day and night. I finally understood what he meant in Psa. 119:99: "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." There is always something else to learn. Once the Bible really gets hold of you, you are hooked for life.
> > I would not want to be too specific in setting dates (mainly because other christians/non-believers could make fun of it)
Well. The Lord took care of that one for me. In a dark room, he put a rectangle of light on Jer. 50:2. It said publish and conceal not. He also sent a bunch of college age kids to my house to study the Bible with me. It started with one boy that dated my daughter and spread by word of mouth. I never once said we would have Bible study, or that it would be at such and such a time. They came when they pleased, single or in a group, and we sat down at the kitchen table to study. It was often 1:00 AM before they left.
I agree. Let's pray for each other. We're on a similar quest. I've been at it for 40 years (I'm 71) and have no intention of stopping. Agape
Pro and Con 513 Or Return
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Updated 5-20-00